- James Rannie performed in Canada as early as 1804.
--
Lee Asher asked an interesting
question on Twitter Monday morning.
What is the name of the first magician to perform in Canada?
Was it Maginnis (circa 1875) as reported in
The Canadian Encyclopedia?
Technically it could be yes, as The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. But lets expand the question to the first magician to perform in what is now considered Canada.
Was it MacAlister performing in Montreal in 1854 as shown by this clipping in the Ottawa Daily Citizen?
No.
How about Philippe in Quebec City September 30th in 1846?
Wrong again.
From an Ottawa Daily Citizen article published on May 22nd in 1852, discussion a performance by a Signor Blitz:
So far the earliest named and documented magic performance in what is now Canada, goes to Mons. Desage, as referenced in the Kingston Chronicle and Gazette December 30 1835.
There's evidence of an unnamed woman doing magic in Kingston in 1835!
And ventriloquists too.
People were complaining about magicians as early as the January 21st 1805 edition of the Quebec Mercury:
A final very important note from Joe Culpepper:
With thanks to Lee Asher for asking this question and Bill Mullins and Joe Culpepper for their hard work and sharing their findings!
